Notices by NatalyaD (natalyad@disabled.social)

@stevo399

I think almost all portrayals of disabled people by non-disabled authors are terrible. Even some disabled authors can be dubious - portraying their personal experience as universal rather than 1 of many possibilities.

@Rgsharpe @quixoticgeek

I think the thread discussion did cover some suggested alternatives.

e.g. instead of mad/nuts say "wild" which conveys the same kind of emotion without the ableism or history.

Ugh, just seen an article about Tony Blair's thinktank (lobbying group) pushing for certain conditions (anxiety, depression, ADHD) to be blanket excluded from Personal Independence Payment (PIP) a not-employment-linked disability benefit to cover extra costs of living while disabled.

It's all promoting this idea PIP is easy to get, doesn't require evidence and is based on condition not specific criteria of "having difficulty with things".

I'm getting tired of Labour kicking disabled folk.

RE: https://furry.engineer/@soatok/116321104173678252

A BiCon in 2017 invited a local sexual health clinic to do testing and advice one afternoon. It was a great idea and if I'm ever stupid enough to run a convention again I will try and make this happen.

Sex is not a bad thing.

Safer sex is awesome and making it easy, safe, socially acceptable and positive to access safer sex advice can only be a good thing.

RE: https://social.v.st/@quixoticgeek/116318158240045573

Thread discussing how benches are essential inclusive architecture. Many people can drive, cycle or walk but can't stand for longer periods.

It takes a lot more leg strength and complex muscle working arrangements to stand than to walk.

I have limited walking AND standing stamina. My nearest shops are in my max good-day walking distance but no benches mean I can't rest part or half way so it's a painful trip when it needn't be.

Stations never have enough seating and it's often hostile.

My mum was a nurse in the 70s and she did a stint on a measles encephalitis ward (encephalitis means inflammation of the brain, and it is BAD BAD NEWS). Many of the children on that ward would either die or have brain damage for life.

Measles wipes out the immune system, trashing previous immunity.

There also seem to be post-measles effects that can crop up years after infection.

Those of us who got access to vaccines in the 80s onwards are LUCKY.

RE: https://mas.to/@kityates/116070775971575940

These measles outbreaks are REALLY BAD news. Measles is a horrible disease with potential for very nasty outcomes long term.

I honestly feel quite hardline about it. If you don't have a measles vaccination (unless legit health-exempt), you shouldn't go anywhere in public. Cos your choices don't just affect you/your children, but affect others, who might not be able to get vaccines.

Screw Andrew Wakefield and the MASSIVE harm he played a huge part in.

RE: https://social.coop/@afewbugs/115729728085284325

My sister who has IssuesTM only realised reading to babies is important cos her baby got a free book a month through a library scheme. This is in spite of coming from a reading family and loving reading herself (at her more-functional times).

While Sister doesn't parent Nephew now (he's with a lovely guardian), Sister has good memories of reading with Nephew and passing on her own love of reading.

Free library membership/books strongly overrides ignorance, language/social barriers etc.

Does anyone here know of any apps which gives user-definable flashcards which they can use to disclose access needs like "I've become non-verbal, please type with me" etc? A friend used to have one but can't find it now.

We know of Stickman Communication cards, but this friend is looking for an app. Any genuine ideas welcomed.

A friend works for a public body that announced that trans folk can't use the correct loos/facilities anymore.

The staff LGBTQ network had been consulted then ignored, so they issued a statement saying so.

There has been SO much kick off in just 2 days by general staff that the organisation is backtracking.

Kicking Off works. Especially if it is done collectively and very loudly!

If your work/service does this, challenge it and get as many people as possible to challenge too.

@goatsarah @marlies @zoe a friend with quite debilitating ADHD talks about driving activating hyper focus for her. Not sure if meds changed that for her, she often ends up unmedicated due to NHS fuckery.

@goatsarah I'm glad the drugs are so helpful, I know there's huge variation in how helpful they can be, but so positive at such an early stage. Hope your titration/jibbling continue to go well and you get an optimal configuration for you.

@davey_cakes @Anitambyrne

I'm a cis disabled woman and I have noticed how often transphobes very quickly jump to outright ableism in their attacking trans folk. Accusations of "being insane/deluded" MH-isms through to surgery, dilation, scars and meds-shaming.

Scratch a TERF and ableism and racism are right there too. All these things are connected and we need to keep remembering that.

@peribotsarah @alexisbushnell

Bigots will ask the time to force someone they think is trans to speak and judge their voice deepness to decide if they're cis or trans or not...

Its such a common thing that many trans people have learned not to answer it, cos it signals danger. If they don't answer it's still danger cos silence = trans.

A bystander can answer, saving the possible trans person from the awkward situation.

@alexisbushnell Challenge the person hassling the trans woman "Why are you hassling this lady, we just want to pee in peace".

If it is another punter a common transphobe trick is to ask the trans person the time. So jump in and give the time and distract Terfypants so trans person can get away/pee in peace etc.

If the org staff are being crappy, ask how they know someone is trans and are they willing to be personally and organisationally sued for discrimination. Be polite, but time-wasting.

I finally escaped work at 4:30, later than I hoped esp as I started early for a then-cancelled meeting...

Inbox has fewer turds than this morning and some nice colleagues.

My employer (a university) has FIIINALLY sorted it's logistical how folk can informally and formally change names and the system-processes that underpin it. A small glimmer of trans-positive news in the pile of shit.

For all its faults, the place is openly trans inclusive and tries to be quietly wise to TERFY-gotchas!

@goatsarah That's better than what I was using in 2007! Real keyboards. My T9 input is still faster than a touchscreen keyboard input is now. That's why I use a desktop + real keyboard still.

I am very saddened to share that UK disability activist Lisa Egan (Lisybabe) has died.

Police let some of her friends know last night https://disabled.social/@Lizzie@morehammer.uk/113759056162284957

Biscuit, Lisa's cat is OK and being cared for.

Funeral arrangements are TBC.

As Twitter implosion has fragmented disability communities, can people please spread the word (with CWs!).

@goatsarah I don't think Bindel was at 2013 cos I'd have kicked off if she had been - I hate her.

I wonder if you mean 2014 which was the year of protests and lot of the same organising people for sure. I know a nonbinary black person who pulled out when they found out Bindel was involved. I no longer speak to my former friends who were organisers cos TERFery.

I'm sorry you got the blame for the protests, that's just barking, but standard for TERFs who really are horrible obsessive evil ppl.

@goatsarah That'd be a fantastic party.

I don't understand how anyone rehabilitated Bindel, she's appalling.

I got monstered at 2013 Feminism in London con (just before it showed its TERF face) where I'd been asked to speak on being a bi and disabled woman (like you do). I named Bindel as a hateful bi/transphobe whose type made me avoid women's space for yrs. The organisers sat there and let a minority abuse me. But 30+ people thanked me 1 by 1 for speaking out against disablism and terfery.